Eiffel Tower gets risqué makeover in fight against AIDS

Hundreds of thousands of free condoms will be distributed in Paris in a bid to tackle the number of people becoming infected by HIV in the city. Authorities are hoping specially designed packaging will encourage lovers to protect themselves.

Authorities in Paris have taken on the fight against AIDS by creating their own condoms, 350,000 of which will be distributed throughout the City of Love next year.

The Town Hall regularly hands out free condoms, but authorities have decided to add a personal touch to help encourage lovers to use protection.

The condoms will be packaged in boxes complete with a specially designed logo, created by Sebastien Souyri, the winner of a competition held by the Town Hall last month.

The winning design for the Paris condom

Souyri impressed the judges with his explicit design, which is based on the famous I ♥ New York slogan. It features a condom neatly fitted onto the top of an upside down heart in the shape of iconic Paris landmark the Eiffel Tower. It leaves little to the imagination.

“The aim of the design is that it will be easily recognised and easily identified by both Parisians and visitors. People will enjoy making love with this ‘I love in Paris’ condom,” Souyri explained.

Authorities, who unveiled the design this week as part of World Aids Day on December 1, will be hoping it will help cut down the number of people infected by HIV.

According to the Institute of Public Health, around five times as many people are diagnosed with Aids each year in Paris compared to the rest of the country.

Each year in France around 6,500 people become infected by HIV. There are also an estimated 40,000 people who do not know they have been infected.

In addition to the initiative in Paris the country’s Health Minister Marisol Touraine has launched a nationwide campaign with warnings set to be aired on TV and in cinemas throughout December and into the new year.